Ladurée reviews
Perhaps I shouldn't have held such high expectations for Laduree, but then review has it as a world-famous patisserie that musters some of the best cakes and macarons in Paris, so I went to try some weeks ago with my boyfriend. True that the grandeur of the decor and the panoply of cakes are quite mesmerising, but the quality of the morsels doesn't quite match up.
We had the Mont-Blanc (the chestnut tart, that is) but it was bland and failed to enthrall the tastebuds. One could easily get a better rendition elsewhere for a cheaper price. The Saint-Honore, supposedly one of their traditional creations, did not excite us either. The choux pastry wasn't fresh - it was only crisp on the outside because it's caramelised. The texture wasn't as intricate as I had hoped and the custard and chantilly cream didn't punctuate through, though to be fair Saint-Honore is very tricky to make. The macaron biscuit of Ispahan was too chewy and lacked the required light and airy consistency, although this one tasted a lot better. The combination of rose, lychee and raspberries was very delicate and refreshing. Overall, the cakes taste like they've been pre-made a while ago and God knows how long they've been on display for. As for drinks, I had the violet tea, which was rather pleasant. But you can't really go wrong with a brew can you?
Service was unbelievably slow - it took us a total of 20 minutes to get the bill and pay for it, but that's probably because the place was packed at that time. Try not to sit under the stairs when it's crowded, otherwise there's a good chance that you'll be ignored.
It still deserves 4 stars because it does give you a pretty Parisian tearoom setting in which to indulge in a luxurious afternoon tea after shopping sprees. Just bear in mind that you'll be paying premium price for something that could've been done better. Adjust your expectations to avoid disappointment.
I took my friend there today for her birthday, as we are both French. Nice staff but the food quality/quantity was a real disappointment. I understand why we were the only ones to have ordered £22 tea - very expensive for what it was. A drink and a single cake would have been more than enough.
by Chantal M, 10 Nov 2007OK place, shame it's in Harrods - tacky, tasteless, run by a loony and the only department store in London still selling fur. If Laduree had any sense they would move into Selfridges.
by Bubbles J. Smith (6 reviews), 07 Aug 2007Absolute bliss. The waitstaff are very pleasant. The décor is diverse, with different discreet areas one can sit in. The menu has a good variety of food for any time of the day - highly recommended for a nice cup of tea and a delicious pastry. All in all a great way to sit back, relax and take in the Harrods atmosphere.
by Maria Maria (2 reviews), 11 Feb 2007Been here many times; varies a lot.
Once was in the black dining area - had scallops with vanilla oil risotto and Parmesan crisps, with a glass of Bollinger Grand Anee, a Saint-Honore cake for pudding with a cup of Earl Grey tea. This whole meal was stunning. To get a meal of this standard in a department store is unheard of in London, though of course commonplace in Paris! I've had worse food at Royal Hospital Road, Petrus, Sketch, Racine, Drones, and many other places in London.
Another time I went and had sea bass and a glass of Montrachet. This was poor. Soggy fish with a foul, overpowering taste of fennel. For pudding I had a few macaroons and a cognac, which were good, but not enough to make up for the poor main course.
I've often picked up sandwiches from here for lunch at the office. They are okay, but nothing special, and I cannot afford to stand in a queue for 20 mins. I can sit down and eat at Noura in that much time. If only this place was not in Harrods!
When I heard Laduree launched in Harrods, I was so excited about it, as I went to Laduree in Paris and it was an absolutely unforgettable experience. Whether it was the decoration, the food, the wine, everything just perfect.
I particularly booked Laduree in Harrods when a very close friend of mine come to visit me from abroad but I was quite disappointed!
It's located in Harrods between the food hall and menswear. It is very quiet and private, the dining area is very small and if you have a group of people they need to sit very close to each other, but the afternoon tea area is quite airy.
Unfortunately, I have to say their food is not as good as I remembered in Paris and I couldn't believe the bread we were served was almost as hard as a stone! (I couldn't cut it with the bread knife they provided.) The way they served butter -was paper wrapped, not served in a small butter dish as a good quality restaurant would do.
For our main course we had sea bass, but it tasted just ordinary, not outstanding, I would say there are restaurants out there where you can get better food at the same price and I wouldn't go to Harrods just for the decor or the name! I was embarrassed, because I had strongly recommended my friend to go there.
Only the deserts are good, as usual. I will still go there to get some deserts again but not for a full meal.
Checked this place out on a Saturday. Had to queue for 30 mins. The place is decorated very nicely and you can relax. The pastries were very nice, although I don't recommend the Montblanc. A very good selection of tea but overall a little bit overpriced, especially the sandwiches.
by rasskass (2 reviews), 06 Mar 2006Have we missed a great cafe in London? Let us know.
Stuart PhillipsCovent Garden »
